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Since joining Robinson & Hall at the beginning of February, it has been an enjoyable transition back into the planning and development consultancy world, having spent nearly 2.5 years working for a housebuilder. Prior to this, I was at Bletsoes for over 7 years in the Planning & Development team, so I am very familiar…

Upcoming increases in planning application fees The Government recently announced that planning application fees for certain categories of developments will increase on 1st April 2025 as follows:   Type of development Current fee (£) New fee from 1st April 2025 (£) 1 Enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a single dwellinghouse 258 528 2 Enlargement,…

In October 2024, we celebrated a year since relocating our Bedford office to Oakley. Embracing a modern open-plan workspace has positively impacted all departments and we are thoroughly enjoying our new offices. If you’re nearby, feel free to drop by for a tour of the office. Lee Jackson has also joined our auction department as…

2024 has been another great year for the Auction department at Robinson & Hall. Our aims for this year, in addition to continuing our growth trajectory, were to expand the team, develop new relationships with estate agents to introduce suitable property, and to try to make the process of both selling and buying at auction…

Leaking roofs, cracks in walls, missing insulation, draughty windows – why do builders think owners should accept sub-standard and shoddy work? In this day and age, we should be embracing high-quality design and demanding super energy efficient buildings. So why is the quality of building works so often not good enough? I have been instructed…

Following the sobering news of changes to Agricultural Property Relief as part of the Autumn Budget, you might be wondering what you can do to generate additional revenue streams from your farm. Whether your property is currently underutilised or no longer fit for farming purposes, there is an opportunity for some rural landowners to lease…

If you are looking to change the use of your agricultural building and are unsure whether Permitted Development Rights apply to you, then please see the following charts which highlight the process and key requirements to consider.

Listed Building Surveys The purchase of a heritage property requires a survey and report that is tailored to the type of building. Often, we are asked to carry out a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey. However, the RICS template format of such reports is not suitable where there are historic features to consider and…

We have been anticipating the introduction of a Renters’ Rights Bill affecting the lettings industry for several years. The previous Conservative Government had set out to introduce changes affecting the private rental sector but encountered numerous difficulties when submitting its bill through Parliament, resulting in them alluding to watering down the Bill. Labour is now…

The East West Rail project has finally issued its route, and consultations are taking place locally. I visited the exhibition recently in Bedford. The main points are: The stated aim is to be primarily a freight route. More details can be found online at here or you can visit the exhibitions in person.